The Rock Report

 • The stage musical version of Green Day's blockbuster 2004 album, American Idiot, opens tonight at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, California, with the theatre also announcing that the show's initial run has been extended due to record-breaking ticket sales. According to Green Day's publicist, the show will now play through November 1st after first being scheduled to close on October 11th. Tickets for the new dates go on sale next Wednesday.
 • The 85-minute show features all the music from American Idiot, as well as some tunes from the band's current album, 21st Century Breakdown.

 • The production features 19 cast members and an onstage band.

 • The show is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, who directed the acclaimed Spring Awakening on Broadway. Mayer and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong co-wrote the script for the stage version.

 • American Idiot sold more than 12 million copies worldwide while winning two Grammys and eight MTV Video Music Awards, among other accolades.

 • Green Day just wrapped up a North American tour in support of 21st Century Breakdown. The band will next shoot a video for the title track and perform on September 13th at the MTV Music Video Awards before heading to Europe. (Pulse)

 

 • Thom Yorke posted a message online yesterday, confirming that a new 12-inch single featuring the songs "The Hollow Earth" and "FeelingPulledApartByHorses" will be available on September 21st. Yorke wrote, "This is to inform you of the release of two more bits of work shortly. They are loosely under the Thom Yorke name this time, although these days its all getting kind of blurry. FeelingPulledApartbyHorses is written and played by Jonny (Greenwood, Radiohead guitarist) and I and is a radical rework of an old tune . . . The Hollow Earth is a bass menace that was born out of the (Yorke's solo album) Eraser period but needed a little more time."

 • Both tracks will be available as paid downloads on October 6th, according to Yorke, while the vinyl version will come with a free digital version of the songs.

 • Meanwhile, sources have told Billboard.com that Yorke is considering playing some solo dates before the end of the year -- with a band other than Radiohead. Details of the possible shows are yet to be confirmed.

 • Radiohead has been in the studio for several months, and recently released two new songs: "Harry Patch (In Memory Of)" and "These Are My Twisted Words," both available digitally through the band's website. (Pulse)

 

 • A bass guitar autographed by members of Green Day, Rush, Deftones and others is being auctioned to raise money for Deftones bassist Chi Cheng, who remains in a semi-conscious state 10 months after being gravely injured in a car crash in Northern California. The 2001 Fender Precision bass has been signed by Green Day's Mike Dirnt, Rush's Geddy Lee and Cheng himself, as well as notable session players Reggie Hamilton, Stu Hamm, Victor Bailey, Marcus Miller and others.

 • The link to the auction can be found at http://bit.ly/2Jqzcb

 • Information on bidding or other ways to donate money for Cheng is available at www.oneloveforchi.com

 • An instrumental track called "Song For Chi," recorded by members of Metallica, Korn, Slipknot and other bands, has been posted online for free download. Donations made at the song's site will go toward Cheng's medical expenses. His insurance company stopped his coverage last January.

 • Deftones resumed playing live earlier this year, with band friend Sergio Vega filling in for Cheng on bass. A new album is due out by the end of the year. (Pulse)

 

 

 • Nine Inch Nails had to cancel their second of four Los Angeles shows, scheduled for last night at the Henry Fonda Theater, because of frontman Trent Reznor being ill. A message on the band's website read, "We're very sorry to announce that Trent is ill, and on his doctor's orders we will not be able to perform tonight's show at the Henry Fonda Theater . . . Reimbursement details will be posted as soon as we figure them out; likely within the next 24 hours. We wish this wasn't necessary and we're very sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for your understanding." Nine Inch Nails is still scheduled to play two more shows in Los Angeles, billed as its final live shows, on Saturday and Sunday provided Reznor can perform. The band was joined at its first L.A. gig on Wednesday by Gary Numan for renditions of his "Cars" and "Metal." (Pitchfork)

 • U2 has been confirmed as the musical guest for the season premiere of Saturday Night Live, scheduled for September 26th on NBC. This will mark the third time that the Irish quartet has played the show. The evening's guest host will be Transformers and Jennifer's Body star Megan Fox. (FMQB)

 • Aussie rockers Wolfmother have delayed the release of their sophomore album, Cosmic Egg. The new record has been pushed back two weeks, from October 13 to October 27. (FMQB)

 • Former Stooges guitarist James Williamson, who joined the band for the recording of 1973's Raw Power when original guitarist Ron Asheton switched to bass, has rejoined the group. Williamson hasn’t performed a single gig since the Stooges dissolved in 1974, but when Iggy Pop asked him back, he couldn't say no. “He asked me if I wanted to play guitar again,” Williamson told Rolling Stone. “I was about to take an early retirement from my job in Silicon Valley, so I figured 'What the hell, let’s do it.'" Williamson spent time last month in Los Angeles rehearsing with the Stooges and they just booked their first gig together. It will be on May 2 and 3, 2010, when they perform Raw Power in its entirety at London's All Tomorrow’s Parties festival. (FMQB)

 • The Warped Tour will hold a massive 15th anniversary celebration concert on September 6th in Los Angeles, featuring performances from Blink-182, Rise Against, Underoath, 3OH!3, Katy Perry, Bad Religion, the All-American Rejects and many more. The show will be filmed and then shown in a feature film playing for one day only on September 17th in more than 400 theaters nationwide. For more info on where to see the Warped Tour 15th anniversary movie, go to http://bit.ly/xl3lF (Alternative Press)

 • Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen posted an update online yesterday indicating that the band is getting back to work after Eddie himself got married and had hand surgery. Eddie wrote, "Wolfie (Van Halen, bass), Alex (Van Halen, drums) and I rehearsed today and had a blast. We played a bunch of songs that we didn't play on the last tour like 'Drop Dead Legs', 'Girl Gone Bad' and 'Outta Love Again'! And just jammed a bit. Haven't played these songs for a long time but they sound...amazing!" (Blabbermouth)

 • 2009 marks 20 years since The Pixies released their album Doolittle. The band will celebrate with a tour in Europe and North America starting next month, where they’ll play the record front to back. To honor the occasion, frontman Frank Black has done a question and answer session with Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/29988419/pixies_doolittle_turns_20_frank_black_on_the_bands_return_to_the_road

 • Three Days Grace will release their new album on September 22nd. The Limited Edition of “Life Starts Now” will include some cool extras including a piece of a shattered Three Days Grace guitar. Now watch them break some guitars:

 

 

 • Here’s the official press release from Warner Music:

 • For the past five years, Hugh Dillon has been growing into one of Canada's hottest and most in-demand television actors, earning accolades and industry acknowledgments for his gritty portrayals in programs such as the cop drama Flashpoint and the moody, cerebral, serial thriller Durham County. This year Dillon earns two Gemini awards for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Supporting Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series for his role in Flashpoint and for the mini-series Murder and Memory. Never before has an actor been nominated for Best actor twice in the same year. Flashpoint breaks a record with the most Gemini nominations with a whopping 19.

 

 • Happy 49th birthday Kim Thayil (guitarist, Soundgarden)

 • Happy 53rd birthday Blackie Lawless (singer-bassist, W.A.S.P.)

 • Happy 58th birthday Martin Chambers (drummer, The Pretenders)

 • In 1976… The Sex Pistols make their first TV appearance, on the British show So It Goes.

 • In 1996… The Smashing Pumpkins win 7 MTV Video Awards, including Best Video for "Tonight Tonight."

• In 2001… The Beastie Boys announce that they've shut down their eight-year-old record label, Grand Royal Records.